Somerset County launches new shuttle bus service

BRANCHBURG — Somerset County officials announced today they will launch a new shuttle bus service on Monday, May 23, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. outside Raritan Valley Community College.

The event will take place at the campus entrance near the theater, one of the stops along the route of the Cmmunity Access Transit Regional shuttle service.

“The county Transportation Division has extensive experience providing essential transportation services, including Paratransit and Community Transit,” said Freeholder Director Robert Zaborowski. “The CAT-2R shuttle that we launched in 2010 has been tremendously successful. Ridership reflects a great mix of college students, older adults and individuals commuting to work. We expect a similar mix of riders to take advantage of the CAT-1R shuttle.”

Starting May 23, the new shuttle will connect Franklin, Bound Brook, South Bound Brook, Bridgewater, Somerville and Branchburg, five days a week. The cost to ride the bus is a flat fee of $2 per one-way trip. In an effort to help promote the new route, rides will be subsidized by RideWise between May 23 and June 17.

Destinations along the route include: the Bound Brook Train Station, Somerville Train Station, the county complex, the Somerville Shopping Center on Route 28, and Raritan Valley Community College.

Schedules for Somerset County Transportation services can be found at: co.somerset.nj.us/scootdash.html.

The Somerset County shuttle service provides older adults, people with disabilities and the general public with reliable and affordable bus service. The original Community Access Transit shuttle, which served 16 municipalities over a period of five days, was launched in 2006 and expanded in 2007. After re-examining ridership numbers and public demand, County transportation officials altered the route, reflecting current demand, a spokesperson explained.

Part of the funding for the new shuttle comes from casino tax revenues through a Senior Citizen and Disabled Resident Transportation Program that is administered by New Jersey Transit.

Freeholder Director Zaborowski will be among those participating in the Ribbon cutting. Invited guests include Senator “Kip” Bateman, Assemblyman Peter Biondi, Assemblywoman Denise Coyle, mayors and council members from the six municipalities that will be served by the shuttle, RVCC President Dr. Casey Crabill, RVCC Senior Vice President for Academics Eileen Abel, Somerset County Business Partnership President Michael Kerwin and Michael Camerino, representing RideWise.

To learn more about the shuttle, contact RideWise at 908-704-1011 or Somerset County Transportation at 908-231-7116 or toll free 1-800-246-0527.